Robert B. Parker

jeseymour · Jan 19, 2010

Died at his desk. This morning, I think. He will be missed.

Not a lot of news on it yet.

Maryn · Jan 19, 2010

Oh, that's a damned shame. I very much enjoyed his work. I'd marry Hawk in a heartbeat.

Maryn, saddened

Chase · Jan 19, 2010

Goodbye, Robert . . .

I, too, am saddened to learn of the loss to readers everywhere.

TC Beacham · Jan 19, 2010

Such sad news! I always look forward to the next book and am really glad there will be a new Jesse Stone novel in February.

Carlene · Jan 19, 2010

RIP Robert Parker

Just read on the news that Robert Parker died today at age 77. I had the honor of meeting him at a writing seminar held in Fitchberg, Mass in the 80's. He was a very nice man ... and very much Spenser.

Carlene

Deleted member 42 · Jan 19, 2010

He was a scholar, a fine writer and teller of tales, and a devout curmudgeon. He will be missed.

MaryMumsy · Jan 19, 2010

I am stunned. I love the Spenser books, and his old west trilogy is classic. I had no idea he was that old.

MM

heyjude · Jan 19, 2010

Merged threads.

We've lost one of the greats. Much sympathy to his family.

TC Beacham · Jan 19, 2010

Carlene said:
Just read on the news that Robert Parker died today at age 77. I had the honor of meeting him at a writing seminar held in Fitchberg, Mass in the 80's. He was a very nice man ... and very much Spenser.

Carlene

Ah-ha! I always guessed he was Spenser.

delb0y · Jan 19, 2010

Huge loss. Great writer. Tremendous set of books for us all to read and/or reread.

Del

Carlene · Jan 19, 2010

Parker had us all in stitches at the seminar. He told us about his trip to L.A. when some producers wanted to make a Spenser movie. He had no intention of selling the character, but said, Hey, a first class plane ticket round trip? Great hotel room. Why not? Anyhow, they were in talks and Parker asked who they were thinking of to play Spenser and they said....Dustin Hoffman! The entire audience groaned. Hoffman is a great actor but...he sure isn't Spenser.

He sure will be missed.

Carlene

DWSTXS · Jan 19, 2010

he wrote a western trilogy?

MaryMumsy · Jan 19, 2010

DWSTXS said:
he wrote a western trilogy?

Appaloosa which was made into a film by Ed Harris, Resolution, and Brimstone. I think Appaloosa was published in 2005. I haven't seen the film and it got meh reviews. Having grown up reading westerns as well as mysteries I found them very true to type. Westerns, as opposed to novels set in the West.

MM

Ken Hoss · Jan 19, 2010

He will be missed. Love the Spenser books.

He told us about his trip to L.A. when some producers wanted to make a Spenser movie.

Parker asked who they were thinking of to play Spenser and they said....Dustin Hoffman!

I would have groaned too! Now Robert Ulrich made a great Spenser in the television series. IMO But the books were better! (Aren't they always?)

Great article here:

http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-et-robert-parker20-2010jan20,0,3618372.story

Jamesaritchie · Jan 20, 2010

I loved all his books, and never missed one. He did a wonderful job with the recent westerns. I was fortunate enough to have a coupel of great conversations with him, and he really was a curmudgeon.

But what more can any writer ask than to have a history of great books, and to die at his desk writing the next one?

alleycat · Jan 20, 2010

It's been a long time since I've read one of his novels. I decided to "honor him" by reading one I hadn't read before: Paper Doll. I haven't read far into it yet, but so far it's been good.

slcboston · Jan 20, 2010

NY Times article here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/books/20parker.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

And I, for one, have lost one of my favorite writers.

ToddWBush · Jan 20, 2010

One of the best is gone... great writer.

GeorgieB · Feb 7, 2010

My bookshelf has a section dedicated to two M/T/S authors, Robert Parker and Elmore Leonard. Both writers are/were experts at creating worlds through dialogue. Some of my readers have commented on the dialogue I use, and I always credit Parker and Leonard for that.

(I accidentally started another thread -- the search function didn't pick up this one.)

R.I.P. Robert B. Parker...

TC Beacham · Feb 8, 2010

Just pre-ordered SPLIT IMAGE, a Jesse Stone novel out Feb. 23 - bless Mr. Parker!

ToddWBush · Feb 8, 2010

I'm reading Appaloosa soon.

TC Beacham · Feb 9, 2010

ToddWBush said:
I'm reading Appaloosa soon.

I look forward to Parker's Westerns - haven't read any of them yet.

Shadow_Ferret · Feb 9, 2010

Wow. Didn't hear about this until I saw this thread just now. R.I.P.

TC Beacham · Feb 28, 2010

Just finished Robert B. Parker's SPLIT IMAGE (published last week).

This novel was equal parts Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall - and both storylines were sort of wrapped up, as if the author expected both series to end.

I'll really miss these characters - ALL of Parker's characters!

ToddWBush · Feb 28, 2010

TC, I finished Appaloosa, and am almost finished with Brimstone. Both are really, really good. Highly recommend them.

Robert B. Parker

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Deleted member 42

the original blond bombshell

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